Chimezie Metu scored 27 points and Bennie Boatwright added 23 as USC held off Middle Tennessee 89-84 on Saturday in the semifinals of the Diamond Head Classic.
USC shot 57.8 percent (26 of 45) from the field, including a clip of 68.2 percent (15 of 22) in the second half. It shot 11 of 21 on three-pointers and was 26 of 33 from the free-throw line.